Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-30
THE STROKE OF FIVE.

ed year live with my parents and other
members of my family in an outlying suburb
ten miles from the city, whittier journey by
train every morning, returning in the EVEN
lug In the office haye gained character
for quiet, piodding industry. At home,
maintain my character for quiet, and am in
addition considered dreamy bookworm and
unsociable into the bargain. AM of medium
seight, slightly built, and, it must be con-
fased, the reverse of muscular. | could
never discover that / possessed other than
commonplace features; and the same verdict,
only perhaps less qualified, would probably
be given by others. Thus much about my
self it is necessary to state before | attempt
to relate that which befell me on the MORN
ing of March "a, 1856.
On the evening of March % had been for
the first time to see the Lyceum Faust"
carry love of the drama to extravaganza.
The performance enthralled me. Being
no linguist, had read no more tLan trans
lation of the work of Goethe, and | was
therefore untroubled by doubts as to the
textual rendering of the original. For three
hours lived in the land of Romance l
sympathized with the actors in the tragedy.
With senses and nerves strung to the highest
pitch of sympathy, concentrated my whole
attention on what passed before me. And
Yet very soon felt that sympathy becoming
al sorbed in the evil genius of the playl Grad
ua1ly the influence grew upon me, until
Mephistopheles exercised over me a greater,
an immeasurably greater, charm than any
other parsonage in the play.
My heart warmed to this scarlet prince of
darkness His plausibility played upon my
fancy in the beginning, his ingenuity famed
my fancy into admiration, his unfathomable
cunning turned admiration to unholy rever-
encel The supreme badness Of the f1end won
me over to the wrong side in spite Of myself.
The influence of the fiend intoxicated me.
Each poisoned arrow of subtle sarcasm struck
acute enjoyment into my soul All through
the play, when the fiend was on the stage, my
eyes saw no other form, my ears heard no
other voice But on the Broken | absolutely
reveled in the majesty of the fiend
No thought of the actor Influenced me- For
the time thought only of this demon as the
demon. The power of imagination was very
strong within me.
As walked from the theatre to the station
|. could not repress momentary feeling of
\ shame and wonder that my sympathies had
heen so completely given to the wrong side.
WSp but myself had ever witnessed Faust, "
and njoyed the play from this standpoint
Who\ but myself had gazed at the picture
from the reverse side and delighted in it,
The thought was feeting, and the unan-
swered questions did not vex me- My mind
quickly returned to its demon worship
As reached Flower Bang, my suburb, the
hands OF the station clock pointed to 12.45.
/ walked down the platform, through the
little gate at the level crossing, and on the
accustomed way home. l had noticed no
Other passenger quit the train at Flower
Bank.
had proceeded about 100 yards from the
stati.n along the path. My mind still dwelt
among the weird scenes of the evening. /
was crossing a wooden bridge spanning a
ditch that interrupts the footway All al
once became sensible of gliding footsteI
behind me-
The right forearm of stranger was thrust
beneath my lett arm and strong hand
grasped the muscle of my arm
l started terribly aud looked sharply
round The night was very dark, but
could make out that the man was tall anC
thin, and somewhat Inclined to stOop. A
long, loose fitting cloak enveloped him from
head to heel He wore on his head larg,
sombrero that effectually concealed hi
features.
The stranger continued to mnuo Onward
and IN spite OF my intense surprise | coull
not choose but move onward, too For hall
a minute neither of US uttered SYLLABLE
Then my companion bent his head until i
was near mine, and in deep, solemn, no
unmusical voice, spoke
You must allow me to accompany YOU,
he said | stammered, faltering, that hi
company would afford me pleasure if oul
ways were Identical / was filled with fear
which l tried hard to suppress, and it wa
with difficulty l succeeded in keeping M
limbs from trembling violently.
He took no notice Of my words, but glide,
forward with silent steps, his hand still
grasping my arm. How like was this tall
1.-the, bending figure; this deep, penetratin;
voice, to the form and voice of the weir.
image in my mind My imagination, alread,
stimulated and overwrought, was ripe t,
surmise the supernatural. Was | dreaming
or had the prince of fiends come himself t,
seek me out because of my ungodly fascina
ton.
Ny companion spoke again:
"You have been present at 'Faust.'n Tn
tone had in it no note of interrogative iniec
ton. 1t seemed to state with authorit-
known, undeniable fact.
YES l managed to murmur, after
short pause of speeches. surprise How
ha1 4 haI
'sAnd did you admire-Mephistoph
started painfully. Whence came thi
strange dark being to probe the limos
thoughts of my brain? What was he-mal
or devill
The tone was one Of grim banter, and N
minded me of the caustic utterances of tn
evil one, that l had gloried in during th
evening.
ssHe was neutrality-suspicious. | said wit
enthusiasm, in spite of my fears-in spite c
my wonder.
''Hal hal A clever performance fai
imitation; but a counterfeit-a good cour
terfsitl Wait until you see the real satan
Hal ha! ham He hissed the last words int
my ear, and the laugh that followed ther
was hoarse and blood curdling.
WIN 4uy huct
knocked together as l walked. l felt tn
perspiration gather or my brow.
'My way lies across this field. If you sti
continue by the path, am afraid must leay
you"
For the first time my companion arreste
hN wis st7g walk and stood still in the path
sfaew. g.oree regarded me for moment; the
~ howly:
k8r cave mel Leave met Boy, you littl
sFnsts to whom you speak, No. You car
~ .ssave me, You shall not leave me. Sha
Rf-neither now uor evermorelr I'll
words were Kissed rather than spoken, wit
hoarse, vibrating distinctness. The stron
hand closed round the puny muscle of m
arm Mailman, yes, or devil l felt it wors
Than useless to resist, and yet
"Help" 1t was a short, sharp cry tbs
burst involuntarily from my lips; not res
lutte enough to summon aid.
My companions left hand was thrust wit
lightning rapidity into his bosom, and wit
the same movement the glistening blade of
knife protruded through the right breast {
his cloak, and pressed against my side.
"One other sound like that, and / leay
you with this in your hearth Now let us
ON
At last he broke the silence with one MOI
solemn, low, precise articulation.
"You came by the last train"
II did y
~ "At what time does the first morning trai
pass berep
Five o'clock, think"
You think Come, boy, be sure"
Five O'Clock
Good. In that case we shall spend e.
sRtly four hours tsgpther, for it is now